Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-25
EISh-HOOK MAKING


The sportsman and the schonlboy are
alike in one thing, ii not in another, says
the Brooklyn Eagle, and that is they
share equally the delightful pleasures
found in the fishing rod and hook. But
we doubt if they have ever given the
simple little fsh-hook which is respon-
sible for SO much enjoyment 4 thought
other than the purpose it was made for.
1t might be interesting, therefore, to
know something of its origin, and how
and where it is manufactured
For many years Brooklyn WAS the only
city IN America where fish-hooks were
manufactured. In fact, to-day there is
only one Other place in the country.
Much curious information has been pre-
scented by different writer's concerning
fish-hooks, tracing their use to the times
of the prophesies of Amos and to the
still more remote writing of the book of
Job, in both of which they are mention
ed, and they cite their use by the apostles
In Bohn's late edition of "Walton's Com
plete Angler" are described the nice diff
ferences of form and qualities of the
Kirby, Limerick, Kendall and sneck bend
hooks, and long shanks are recommended
for hooks that are to be dressed with
long bodied flies, as the dragon fly, the
stone fly, and the spider fly, any super
fluffy in length being easily nipped off.
The Kirby hook derived its name from
an ancient family who had become fam
Gus in their manufacture.
Charles Kirby, who lived in the time of
Charles H. acquired from Prince Rupert
the art of tempering, which remained in
use in the family till 1850. A lineal de-
scendant of that Charles was then max
ing near Aggregate, London, the hooks in
best repute for shape and temper. The
first improvement in the construction
of the fsh-hook from the old, old con
vsntional style was made thirty years
ago.
Fish-hook making in the United States
was first introduced in Brooklyn in 1874
by Job johnson, and was carried on ex-
tensively by him until the year 1876,when
the business was turned over to John W.
Court. Mr.. Court told a reporter some
interesting facts about the manufacture
of the little instrument.
II came to this country from the vii
lage OF Redditoh, in Worcestershire, Eng
land. In that town there are many fish
hook manufacturers and when mere boy
/ started out to learn the trade, When l had
finished came to Brooklyn and worked
for johnson for time and then began
for myself. hammered out fish hooks by
my hands in humble little shop not far
from here, and continued to do so until a
few years ago, when my inventive genius
forced me to experiment. My labors
were rewarded by the successful invention
of patent automatic fish hook machine,
which makes eighty-fve hooks, of any
size, per minute, from the common wire
as fed from the reel. In olden times the
hook had to be handled many times be-
fore comp leted. First the wire was cut
to the right length for the size needed;
then we cut the barb on, and the next
thing was to anneal the hook, then forge
it on a drop press, next shear it on the
same press, then grind the point, shape
it, and after that eye or flute it. Then
the hook was ready for temperiDg. Those
were all done with hand machines.
came to the conclusion that 1t was q slow
process and invented the machine / have
referred to above, which combines all of
these hand machines int one. / am now
at work upon a machine sspeci-
ally for trout hooks, and when completed
will turn .o1t hooks at the rate of 150
per minute. At the present we make
about $4,000 hooks per day, or total Of
24,0O0, 900 per year. The method of the
lows: The wire is taken from the coil
the same as received from the mill and
run through a revolving Strengthening
machine, composed of pieces Of steel
screwed in zigzeg shape, which acts as a
friction On the wire and Strengthens it.
Then it is drawn on 10 large wheel five
feet in diameter (the process being the
same as winding cotton on spool from
the last end of the wire. and is taken and |
put into the machine by an automatic |
feed by two rollers any length you want. |
Then It is sheared of, transferred, and |
the eye is put on. 1t passes on and the |
barb cutter puts the barb on; then the |
forging dies take hold of it and hattsns |
the point ont: it still travels on and the |
chipping dies trim the blot off at an |
angle, which leaves a ragged point. 1t |
still travels further IN the intricate ma
chinery, when the rotary mills take the |
rough edge of the hook, and then the |
other mills made Y-shape, file on the |
sides. After that it is transferred to be |
shaped, and then it is finished.
The machine is the simples. in con- |
struction OF any in existence, and the |
only one of its kind in the world. / make |
quite specially in shark hooks and have |
recently turned ont the largest one ever |
known to be made. 1t was made out OF |
81 steel wire and is two feet in length |
Is inches when shaped The bend IL u |
inches in diameter and the barb il 81 |
inches deep. / calculate that the hook is |
capable of holding four or i've tons, and /
can get away with pretty good shark.
Sailors used to visit my shop frequently |
and spin yarns while purchasing hooks,
hat now they do not buy direct from nae.
ship the greater portion of the larger
hooks to Ghosts, newfoundland and Cali /
fornia.